Pharaoh: King of Egypt

10 February –
17 June 2012

Leeds City Museum, Leeds

Supported through the generosity
of the Dorset Foundation

This exhibition features highlights from the British Museum’s superb collection of ancient Egyptian objects. The exhibition is the largest UK loan of Egyptian artefacts ever undertaken by the British Museum and includes wonderful examples of sculpture, jewellery, palace ornamentation, papyri and funerary objects.

This touring exhibition has been developed in a partnership between Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums and the British Museum. More than 130 objects, some never before seen outside London, have been chosen by the venues to explore the myths and realities of kingship in ancient Egypt.

Objects and exhibition themes

All of the objects in the exhibition can be found in the British Museum collection database online
See all of the objects
Explore the objects by theme

Statue of the pharaoh Ramesses II.
Egypt, c. 1200 BC.


Read the blog

When the pharaohs came to town

Victoria Page from the Great North Museum: Hancock writes about her experiences of the exhibition.
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130 objects, 3,000 years of history

The work is finally complete, and the exhibition is ready to throw open its doors to the public.
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The pharaohs are coming

The objects are being unpacked and installed after their almost 300-mile trip from London to Newcastle upon Tyne.
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Pharaohs and palaces

Margaret Maitland, part of the team behind the exhibition, introduces the new tour and describes the appeal of ancient kings.
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Tour dates

Great North Museum: Hancock
Newcastle upon Tyne:
16 July – 25 September 2011
Dorset County Museum, Dorchester
17 October 2011 – 22 January 2012
Leeds City Museum
10 February – 17 June 2012
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
7 July – 14 October 2012
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
3 November – 24 February 2013
Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
15 March – 9 June 2013